Almost three years later, the students and teachers displaced by that flood will reunite under one roof. The new Clarkdale Elementary will open for class August 13. 11Alive News has been dedicated to bringing the community together to help the Clarkdale kids. Three reporters and the entire Help Desk participated in a special Saturday morning show at the new school.

Mrs. Marjorie's Opus

"Every day that I come into this building, I have a smile on my face that we really did make it," said Clarkdale Elementary Principal Majorie Bickerstaff.

The journey through these new, shiny doors has been muddied with loss.

Eighty-seven families at Clarkdale lost their homes in the September 2009 floods that destroyed the school. But Principal Bickerstaff doesn't wallow. She dreams.

"You could mourn what happened or dwell on the negative," she said. "I'm not that kind of person."

Bickerstaff gave 11Alive's Julie Wolfe a tour of the new school. It includes reminders of the old Clarkdale everywhere.

"Do you ever think none of this would be here if none of that happened?" Julie asked her.

"You know, and I guess I am a real optimist, but sometimes things happen for a reason," Bickerstaff said. "And wow. Look what took place, but look what came out of it."

Part of Marjorie's dream school is an amphitheatre that sits between Clarkdale Elementary and the neighboring Middle School. Clarkdale students used to do a musical every year, and they want to start it up again. They have enough drama in their own story to feed a stage.